Report Released By Group Alleges Discriminatory Practices At CVS Pharmacies Across U.S.

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 05 Dec 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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A coalition of public interest groups on Thursday are expected to gather outside of several CVS pharmacies in New York City and four other cities to protest what they say are unequal services provided to minority communities across the country, the New York Daily News reports. CVS has more than 6,000 pharmacies nationwide. The coalition is expected to release a report that alleges "questionable product quality, overcharging and consumer safety issues" by the pharmacy chain in minority neighborhoods (Moritz, New York Daily News, 12/4).

The report, signed by a number of labor and immigrant advocacy groups, alleges that CVS has fewer stores in minority communities than in white neighborhoods across the country, Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said. The coalition also claims that the pharmacy chain keeps certain products -- such as condoms, infant formula and baby food -- in locked cabinets in stores in communities with larger minority populations, while such items are not locked up at stores in white neighborhoods. "The report highlights the inequity with which CVS serves some of its customers," Millona, said, adding, "We urge CVS to address that."

CVS spokesperson Michael DeAngelis said in a statement that "ethnicity plays no role in loss-prevention procedures" and that the report is "based on inaccurate and outdated information." He added, "CVS Caremark does not discriminate in our policies or store operations, or tolerate discrimination of any kind in our organization" (Wong, Boston Globe, 12/4).

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© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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